When I go shopping for books -- I wander aimlessly through the fiction section -- picking up books, reading blurbs on the back or inside cover -- judging them -- for the covers, titles, authors name -- trying so desperatly to find a book that will speak to me. So I'll open them up and tryto Aread the first couple of pages --- Or maybe just the first paragraph -- try to get a feel for the writer's tone and voice... blah blah blah -- but then you come to find out that they have given the main charachter has a horrible name -- that is either a. unprounoucable - so I feel like I'm reading Russian or Lativan - or sooo cheesy that it makes my heart ache for the charachter. Yep, I'm a judger.
I like books with the matte finish -- as opposed to the glossy finish. But I'm not opposed to reading these glossy books as I once was. I read more paper back books than hardcover -- and I have recently started approving of the mass paperback format sold in grocery stores and drug stores. I used to roll my eyes at these books -- but now they are fair game. Also they are usually 1/2 the price of snobby full sized books. Bonus if you are on a book budget.
I like to read multiple things at the same time. As of today, I'm reading Salem Falls -- by Jodi Piccoult. Vanishing Acts - also by Jodi (this one is at Dave's house for when we are reading in bed together) I just started Stupid and Contagious --- which has two poorly named charchters -- Heaven and Brady... but we'll see if I can get past that. At work I have a book The amazing adventours of the Hunt Sisters -- for when I'm lame and stay inside for lunch, but lately I've been Jamba Juicing it for lunch. I've started Firefly Lane -- and then put it down when my dad died -- it's written by Kristin Hannah -- and her books always make me cry, so it's on the back burner right now. I have Love in the Time of Cholera on my night stand and I can't seem to get past page 12. Maybe I have some sort of reader's a.d.d.... who knows.
With my new years resolution to read more, I've decided that I'm going to try in purge the book in my head on to paper.
Right now, I'm in this outline process -- and as Gwennie learned this weekend - I'm not so sure about much -
I have this character - I call her GIRL or more recently Gladys per Gwen's suggestion. She is an average girl - brown curly hair, freckles, a little chubby --- she has a sister who she is in constant competition with over dumb things - but at the moment Gladys is just mad that her sister got a much better name.
Gladys has some problems, a goal and several obstacles. I know I'm being uber vague at the moment - just nothing is super official.
Gwennie thinks that Gladys needs to evolve throughout the story and she doesn't need a better job a fantastic boyfriend or a significant weight loss to be happy --- I agree but I'm having issues getting from the begining to the end and I just thought I'd have a little rant.
On the same lines -- I'm thinking of using a pen name -- since well this chick lit stylings is less than my literary background -- any comments?
I'm addicted to baby names -- I don't want to be parent or have a bundle of joy for quite some time- -- but I waste way to much time on babynames.com.
Right now my favorite names include: the middle names are interchangeable... maybe it's time for a new pet, haha. Actually - I'm working on my first novel... but I can't make up my mind on the main characters name. Right now, I'm calling her Gladys -- but I just don't see it sticking.
Jackson David
Nathaniel Keith
Kendra Nicole
Audra Estelle
Thisbe Suzette
Fletcher Quentin
Delaney Alexandra
Joshua David
Finley Kathleen
Mitchell Bradford
Bennett Henry
Spencer James
